Climbing has been a part of Expedition Inspiration's identity since its inception. Laura Evans believed in mountain climbing as a parallel to overcoming breast cancer and also as a means to stay healthy, positive, and surrounded by a "team." To continue our founders' vision, we hold an annual climbs and hikes for a Cure events.
Email Hailey at ei@expeditioninspiration.org if you would like to hike or climb with us!
climbs for a cure
Hyndman Peak, June 2024
Click here to learn more about climbing Hyndman Peak, June 30, 2024.
Expedition Inspiration's active adventures are structured to empower and promote the health and well being of all who participate while increasing breast cancer research funds.
Hikes for a cure!
These moderate hikes allow breast cancer survivors, their families and friends, as well as anyone sympathetic to the cause, to participate and heighten awareness, raise funds and provide hope and support for others.
Tribute flags
Tribute Flags play an important role in mountaineering. No major expedition would be complete without the protective flags, and EI has adopted this spiritual custom.
Reasons to Exercise
You'll lower your cancer risk. Regular exercise lowers the risk of breast cancer coming back, as well as reduces the risk of ever being diagnosed with breast cancer. Exercise also can lower your risk of cancers of the colon, lung and uterus.
Research suggests that exercise can make side effects from treatment fewer and less severe:
Ease nausea during chemotherapy
Improve blood flow to the legs, reducing the risk of blood clots
Ease constipation by stimulating digestion and elimination systems
Rev up your sex drive and enhance your arousal
Ease fatigue caused by radiation and/or chemotherapy
You'll live longer. Though the issue is complex, research suggests that exercise can improve survival for breast cancer survivors. Part of this is due to exercise helping survivors maintain a healthy weight.
You'll have more energy. Fatigue is a side effect that many women have during and after treatment for breast cancer. Regular exercise can boost your endurance and help your heart and lungs work more efficiently, both of which give you more energy for the work you do each day.
You'll have better mobility. Scar tissue that forms after breast cancer surgery, reconstruction, or radiation can lead to your arm and shoulder muscles feeling tight. Not using your arm and shoulder as much after treatment also can cause the muscles in those areas to lose flexibility. Overtime, careful stretching exercises can improve any range of motion issues you may have in your arm and shoulder.
You'll have more muscle and be stronger. As most people age,they tend to lose muscle and gain fat. Chemotherapy and hormonal therapy medicines can throw you into sudden menopause, which also can cause muscle mass to decrease. Strength training exercises can help make sure you have more muscle than fat -- which means you'll be able to carry groceries, pick up your pets or grandchildren, and close the lift gate of your car.
You'll keep your bones healthy. As you age, you lose bone mass. If you've been diagnosed with breast cancer, maintaining healthy bones is especially important for you. Research shows that some breast cancer treatments can lead to bone loss. Plus, women are about twice as likely as men to develop osteoporosis (a disease that means your bones are weak and more likely to break) after age 50. Weight-bearing exercise, such as jogging or walking and strength training, can slow bone loss.
You'll feel better about yourself. A breast cancer diagnosis can leave some women feeling scared, depressed, and anxious. Exercise can help lift your spirits, keep depression at bay, and boost your self-esteem. Physical activity triggers the release of brain chemicals such as endorphins that can make you feel happier and more relaxed. You also might feel better about yourself and your appearance if you exercise regularly and see a fit, strong, toned woman looking back at you in the mirror.
You'll sleep better. If you struggle with insomnia or wake up a lot at night, regular exercise can help you fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply.
You'll be less stressed. Any type of exercise can help melt away stress. Besides pumping up endorphin production in the brain, exercise can be a type of meditation. By focusing on just one task — running or dancing or whatever you're doing -- you may find that you forget the day's annoyances and settle into a calm, clear state of mind.
(borrowed from breastcancer.org, an excellent breast cancer resource)
